According to USDA’s semiannual cattle inventory report, dairy producers continued to expand their herds through the first six months of 2015. The report showed that as of July 1st, 2015, the dairy cow herd was 0.5% above a year ago while the number of dairy replacement heifers was 2.4% higher than the 2014 figure. The total milk cow herd of 9.30 million head was up 0.50 million head from the prior year and reached a seven year high. Dairy replacement heifers of 4.20 million head were up 0.10 million head from the prior year. The number of dairy replacement heifers finished at a four year high while the Jul ’15 heifer replacements per milk cow of 0.452 also increased to the highest figure experienced in the past four years.